Campus Player

When Justin fails to respond, I swing away, striding after the only girl I’ve ever cared about. The very same one who wants nothing to do with me.

10

Demi

I’m still fuming as I stride down the sidewalk. It seems unimaginable that Justin would attempt to pin the blame for his cheating on me.

On me!

As if I had anything to do with him whipping out his dick and stuffing it in someone else’s mouth.

Nope. Don’t think so.

The temperature might have dipped into the low seventies, but it does nothing to cool my temper. It’s as if the conversation is playing on a constant loop in my head, and I can’t make it stop.

The nerve of that guy!

Instead of apologizing—not that it would have done any good—he had actually tried to justify his cheating! I’ve never met two people who deserve one another more. Justin and Annica are a match made in hell.

It’s the heavy fall of footsteps from behind that snap me out of my thoughts. I swear to God, if it’s Justin, I will totally lose my shit. I can’t deal with anymore of his asinine behavior. Had I been smart, I would have pulled the plug on our relationship on the way home from dinner Wednesday night. Instead, I waited.

With my hands clenched, I swivel around. I’m not normally a violent person, but tonight, I’ve been pushed past my limit. Except it’s not Justin. My gaze collides with concerned ocean-colored eyes. A soft puff of air escapes from my lips as my muscles loosen.

Rowan.

He was there to witness my humiliation and is the last person I want to see or talk to.

It takes a second for him to fall in line with me. For half a block, we walk in silence before he asks, “You okay? That was brutal.”

I keep my gaze focused straight ahead. “I’m fine.”

Lie.

What hurts most is that one of my own teammates despises me enough to inflict that kind of damage. I had already decided to cut Justin loose. My feelings for him weren’t that deep.

But Annica?

Someone who I’d taken under my wing and considered a friend? Someone who should have my back as a teammate?

That one stings more than I’m willing to admit.

Drunken students loiter on the lawns of houses where multiple parties are in full swing. A few people yell out Rowan’s name as we pass by.

Instead of responding, his attention stays solely focused on me. “You sure about that?”

My skin prickles under the intensity of his stare. Can you even imagine falling for a guy like him? He would ground your heart to a fine dust beneath his cleat.

Instead of answering, I snap, “Why is every guy on this campus a cheating bastard?” The question escapes before I have a chance to rein it back in. I flick my gaze in his direction to get a read on his thoughts before adding begrudgingly, “At least you don’t pretend to be faithful. That would involve dating, and you don’t do that.”

In all the years I’ve known Rowan, not once have I seen him with the same girl more than once or twice. His adoring fan base is legendary. A kernel of jealousy blooms in the pit of my belly before I quickly stomp it out.

“Wait a minute,” he says, breaking into my thoughts, “you think I’m a womanizing asshole like Justin?”

Ummm...yeah. That’s exactly what I think. If you asked anyone at Western who the biggest player on campus was, the answer would undoubtedly be Rowan Michaels.

Are we really going to pretend otherwise?

“Look, I don’t think you’re an asshole, but we’ve gone to school together for the past three years.” I shoot him a—who are you trying to kid look. “The tales of your conquests are legendary.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t put so much stock in the gossip you hear around campus, Demi.”

Seriously?

I’ve heard way too many stories for at least some not to be true. It’s a little hard not to believe when the information comes straight from the horse’s mouth. And by horse, I mean the girls he bangs.

“Oh, please.” I snicker before shoving at his arm. Why is he trying to bullshit me? Just own it. “You’re like the manwhore all other manwhores look up to and want to emulate. You should wear that badge of honor with pride.”

“You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” he growls.

After the night I’ve had, all I want is an honest conversation and to figure out how to better discern the jerks from the guys worth getting to know. Right now, I’m at a loss.

I’m ripped out of those thoughts when Rowan’s fingers lock around my upper arm as we grind to a halt on the sidewalk. Before I realize what’s happening, he drags me closer. I stumble a few steps before crashing into his chest. My gaze goes wide as it locks on his. A harsh look fills his eyes. One I’ve never seen before. It has all the saliva drying in my mouth and nerves skittering along my spine. When my tongue darts out to smudge my lips, his attention falls to the movement. A mixture of excitement and fear bloom inside me as a strange energy crackles in the air.